IT IS GOOD ADVICE FOR ANYONE TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BRING HOME A NEW DOG.

VETS APPOINTMENT: YOU SHOULD MAKE THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE DAY YOUR PUPPY IS SCHEDULED TO COME HOME. SHOW YOUR VET ANY PAPERS YOUR BREEDER HAS GIVEN YOU AS TO WHAT SHOTS IT HAS ALREADY HAD. HE/SHE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FROM THEN ON. SEE YOUR CONTRACT AS TO WHAT SHOTS YOU MUST AVOID FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. FOLLOW YOUR VETS ADVICE ON THESE MATTERS: VACCINES, DIET, FLEA PROTECTION, AND HEARTWORM PREVENTION SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THIS FIRST VISIT. DISCUSS ANESTHESIA WITH YOUR VET. BE SURE THE VET WILL USE ONLY ISOFLOURINE AS AN ANESTHETIC AGENT. THIS COULD SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE.

FOOD:  BE SURE TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT FOOD (KIBBLE) YOUR PUP HAS BEEN EATING, AS ITS REGULAR DIET. HAVE A BAG OF THIS ON HAND AND DON’T MAKE ANY SUDDEN DIETARY CHANGES FOR THE FIRST 6 WEEKS OR SO. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE DIET, CONSULT YOUR VET AS TO WHAT HE/SHE THINKS IS BEST, AND THEN GRADUALLY MAKE THE CHANGE BY MIXING THE TWO TOGETHER, AND GRADUALLY ADDING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE NEW FOOD. THIS WILL PREVENT UPSET STOMACH AND DIARRHEA.

EMERGENCY CARE: YOU WILL NEED TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA, OR LOW BLOOD SUGAR. BUY A TUBE OR TWO OF “NUTRI-STAT” OR “NUTRA-CAL”  SUPPLEMENT, AND KEEP THIS WHERE EVER YOUR DOGGIE IS! TAKE IT EVERYWHERE YOU AND YOUR DOG GO. THE STRESS FROM BEING SEPARATED FROM IT’S MAMA AND SIBLINGS CAN CAUSE THIS, TRAVELING, AFTER VETS SHOTS, POOR APPETITE, NOT ENOUGH REST, CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT, BEING SCARED BY A LOUD NOISE, ECT… CAN BRING THIS ON, AND IT HAPPENS SO QUICKLY. JUST OPEN THE TUBE, AND LET THEM HAVE SOME WHENEVER YOUR LITTLE ONE IS UNDER STRESS, OR WON’T EAT WELL. IF THE PUPPY WON’T LICK AT THIS. PUT SOME ON YOUR FINGERTIP, AND PUT IT ON ITS TONGUE, DO THIS ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES, TILL THE PUP IS MORE RESPONSIVE. THEN CALL YOUR VET. SIGNS OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR ARE: VOMITING, SHAKING, A BLANK STARE AND NOT RESPONDING, PALE TONGUE, PALE OR LIGHT BLUE GUMS, SLEEPINESS…THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY.

SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP: YOUR NEW PUPPY WILL NEED A SAFE “DEN”, OR PLACE TO GO WHEN IT JUST WANTS TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL AND FEEL SAFE. YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A SMALL CRATE AND KEEP IT OUT WHERE THE PUP CAN FIND IT, AND GO TO IT WHEN IT WANTS TO. YOU WILL ALSO USE THIS FOR HOUSEBREAKING PURPOSES. WHENEVER YOU CAN NOT KEEP AN EYE ON THE DOG, YOU SHOULD PUT IT IN THE CRATE, AND THEN IT CAN’T HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN THE HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE. FOOD AND WATER MUST BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES IN AND OUT OF THE CRATE. THE CRATE SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED WHILE YOUR DOG IS IN THE CAR WITH YOU FOR SAFE TRIPS. A LITTLE DOG COULD GET UNDER THE FOOT PEDALS OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. THEY SHOULD NEVER BE HELD ON YOUR LAP, AS AN AIRBAG GOING OFF COULD KILL YOUR LITTLE FRIEND.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO PURCHASE IN ADVANCE:

1. COMB AND BRUSH, SHAMPOO.

2. FOOD AND WATER BOWLS, (AVOID PLASTIC DISHES AND BUY GOOD CERAMIC DISHES OR STAINLESS STEEL—I PREFER THE 18/10 STAINLESS STEEL BOWLS.) YOU MIGHT WANT A HANGING WATER BOTTLE FOR WHEN YOUR DOG IS IN THE CRATE, THE TYPE OF BOTTLE USED FOR BUNNIES OR GUINEA PIGS. IF YOU USE THIS TYPE OF BOTTLE, YOU MUST CHECK THE LEVELS DAILY, SOMETIMES THE WATER LEVEL REMAINS UNCHANGED, AND THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A BLOCKAGE IN THE TUBING. BEING WITHOUT FLUIDS CAN QUICKLY KILL YOUR PUPPY.

3. STEAM CLEANER FOR CARPET CLEANING.
4. WEE-WEE PADS. I USE THE KROGER BRAND OF ADULT INCONTINENCE “BLUE” PADS. YOUR PUPPY IS PAPER TRAINED TO USE THESE PADS. THEY CAN BE BOUGHT AT MEIJER, KROGER, OR OTHER  PHARMACIES.

5. STEP IN TYPE HARNESS. NOT A NECK COLLAR AND NOT A “CHOKE” CHAIN. THIS IS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR DOGS TRACHEA.

6. CRATE AND PAD FOR SLEEPING AND CONFINEMENT WHEN YOU CANNOT SUPERVISE THE PUPPY.

7. LEASH
8. TOYS, TOYS, AND MORE TOYS...